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Promachus yesonicus

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Promachus yesonicus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Asilidae
Genus: Promachus
Species:
P. yesonicus
Binomial name
Promachus yesonicus
(Bigot, 1887)

Promachus yesonicus, or shioya-abu (塩屋虻, シオヤアブ) in Japanese, is a species of robber flies. In Japanese, "shioya" means a salt merchant (someone who makes or deals in salt), and "abu" means a horse-fly. This insect is called "shioya-abu" because the males have a white tip to their tail that resembles salt.

Distribution

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Promachus yesonicus is found throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. They are visible from June to September.

Description

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Male Promachus yesonicus have a white cotton-like bud at the end of their tails, while females do not. Adults can reach 23–30 millimetres (0.9–1.2 in) in length.[1]

References

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  1. ^ (学研の図鑑)昆虫 (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Gakken. 1986. p. 102. ISBN 4-05-102259-5.

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